The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-05-05
Special correspondence Of tie Gold Leaf.
New YoRK, April 20, 1887.

Special correspondence Of tie Gold Leaf.
New YORK, April 20, 1887.
General John c. Fremont's "Me-
moirs of My ! ite," of which the first
volume has just been issued by MeSsrs
Belford, Clarke & Co., the New York
and Chicago publishers, is enjoying a
boom that promises a handsome return
for the author, and no doubt will
prove bonanza to the publishers. Ii
records the romantic career of the
author, as soldier, statesman, and Cit
izen, and is a work of great study that
will interest every class of readers. In
the general preparation of his "Me-
moirs of My Life" General Fremont
has found no more valuable and de
voted an assistant than his wife, Jessie
Benton Fremont, herself an author,
and therefore the more capable of as
sisting her husband in his great task.
For nearly year past Mrs. Fremont
has been constantly at work with the
General in the arrangement OF the
" Memoirs" 3" besides finding time to
write considerable material which she
was under engagement to produce
over her own signature.
The Fremonts at present reside in
comfortably furnished apartments on
one of the fashionable thoroughfares OF
Washington, where, surrounded by
books and literary matter of every de-
scrlption, their work is reformed.
Both are vigorous in health and lively
in disposition, with enough literary
work planned ahead for several years
to come.
Mrs. Fremonts constant application
at her work proved trif1e too much
of a strain for her at the beginning OF
last winter, and she was compelled to
rest for a period of eight weeks. "Brt
| am all we'll again now," she says
cheerfully, "and full of the best health
l have ever enjoyed. Although my
physicians prescribed a rest Of at least
eight weeks duration for me when |
took i'll at the early part of the winter,
l really only rested about one week.
Then l had my books brought me, un
awares to the physicians, placed before
me on the bed, and thus | hunted up
references even if | did no actual writ
ing"
Here she picked up a book and
showed how she marked the relative
importance of her points-a perfect
code of signals, showing by the man
ner in which the leaf was turned down
its degree of value-one corner, both
corners, a deep fold, small fold, half
a leaf, etc.
"Betore we began" she continued,
81 unpacked papers which had not
been opened for thirty years. | ar
ranged these in seventytWo pigeon
holes and in several drawers-in other
words, | cut out all my patches before
l began to piece my quilt"
Then, pointing to an enormous pile
of Senate documents, she said:
"NVc have used something in every
one of those, sometimes only few
lines, but it has required research and
handling. l have been expecting tc
do this work for thirty years, and have
had charge of the material. | cannot
do much other literary work, although
publishers are kind enough to ask me
to do so, because our work on the Gen
erals memoirs takes all my time"
ssBut does not this immense quantity
of work preclude all social enjoy.
ments2'
Eyes, of course. At present neither
the General nor myself accept any in
vitations except to visit our nearest
friends, and l only reserve to myself
few hours on Saturday afternoons tc
see callers"
"What are your habits of work anc
those of the General ?" was asked.
ave have none," replied Mrs. Ere
mont. "We simply dig, dig, dig al
work. We rise about E O'Clock. lhe
General takes his bath, fle>h brushing
sponging, dry rubbing, in fact an i'm
mense amount of grooming, for that i:
what it amounts to. Then he come:
into this study. Here he takes hi
cup of coffee and some toast, and /:
ready for work.
81 make my toilet in a somewha
shorter time than he does, and go ou
for a short walk, but get in and have
my tea and toast by the time he i:
ready.
ain the winter we began work
shortly after s o'clock, but now anC
during the summer we will begin {
little earlier.
"The General dictates and | write
steadily until 12:3o; then we stop ano
have what you may call our breakfast
W. -a.+ On hour nr more which